Biodiesel and Ethanol

Minnesota Temporarily Waives 5 Percent Biodiesel Mandate

January 20, 2010
• by Staff

ST. PAUL, MN - The Minnesota Department of Commerce has temporarily waived the 5-percent biodiesel mandate for No. 1 diesel fuel in the state due to cold weather, reports the Minnesota Biodiesel Council (MBC).

The waive is the response for some concerns that the 5 percent biodiesel mandate could lead to clogged fuel filters in exceptionally low temperatures.

Currently, fuel and filter samples are being tested. The department said that "a small segment" of diesel users, primarily from southwestern and northern Minnesota, have experienced difficulties with clogged filters. Although it is unclear how many vehicles have been affected by clogged filters, most reports seem to involve tractors or Bobcats instead of trucks, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Officials expect to discuss concerns about the clogged filters later in January.

To read more information from the MBC on this issue, please click here.

Ecology, a transportation and logistics company in California, has switched its fleet of more than 600 trucks to run on Neste MY renewable diesel and is reporting cleaner fuel filters, fewer maintenance problems, and reductions in tailpipe emissions.

Turlock Scavenger, a waste collection and recycling company in central California, switched its fleet of diesel engine vehicles to run on Neste MY Renewable Diesel and is reporting significant reductions in maintenance costs.

McDonald’s fleet of biodiesel delivery trucks in the United Arab Emirates recently registered more than six million miles (10,000,000 kilometers) on the road since the launch of an initiative to utilize the alt-fuel vehicles seven years ago.